Calibrachoa plant named ‘DCALIADR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  cultivar named ‘DCALIADR’ is disclosed, characterized by a controlled, mounded to semi-trailing plant habit and large dark red flowers. Plants produce dark green foliage and have moderate vigor. The new variety is a  Calibrachoa , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Calibrachoa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘DCALIADR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newCalibrachoa varieties for ornamental purposes. The open pollinationresulting in this new variety was made during March of 2016.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to asCalibrachoa ‘CA. 16-5018’. The pollen parent is unidentified. The newvariety was discovered in March of 2017 by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the open pollination, in a research greenhousein Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DCALIADR’ was first performedby terminal vegetative cuttings during March of 2017, at a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by has shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations. Date of first sale was Apr. 7, 2019,occurring in the United States. This sale was made directly by theinventor or one who obtained the claimed invention directly orindirectly from the inventor. This sale and all public disclosures madebetween Apr. 7, 2019 and the filing of this application fall within theexception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCALIADR’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DCALIADR’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DCALIADR’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoacultivar:

-   1. Large dark red flowers.-   2. Early flowering.-   3. Dark green foliage.-   4. Controlled, mounded to semi-trailing plant habit.-   5. Moderate vigor.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALIADR’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘DCALIADR’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has a mounded to semi-trailing growth habit; the    seed parent has a trailing plant habit.-   2. The new variety has dark red flowers; seed parent has dark pink    flowers.-   3. The new variety has larger flowers than the seed parent.-   4. The seed parent has lighter green foliage than the new variety.-   5. The new variety forms a fuller plant than the seed parent which    has an empty center.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALIADR’ can be compared to the patentedcommercial variety Calibrachoa ‘KLECA17038’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,835.These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, ‘DCALIADR’ differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DCALIADR’ has a darker red flower color than this comparator.-   2. ‘DCALIADR’ is less susceptible to powdery mildew than this    comparator.-   3. ‘DCALIADR has a bigger flower than ‘KLECA17038’.-   4. ‘DCALIADR’ has a more vigorous growth habit than this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALIADR’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Calibrachoa ‘Red Lips’ (unpatented). These varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DCALIADR’differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DCALIADR’ is a darker red flower color than this comparator.-   2. ‘DCALIADR’ has a more mounded plant habit than ‘Red Lips’.-   3. ‘DCALIADR’ has darker green foliage than ‘Red Lips’.-   4. ‘DCALIADR’ is less vigorous than ‘Calitastic Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant in a 20 cm pot, at approximately 5 months of age, of‘DCALIADR’ grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close-up view of flowers of‘DCALIADR’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DCALIADR’ plants grown in greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurementswere taken during Summer of 2018. The plants were approximately 60 daysfrom a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The growing temperature rangedfrom 16° C. to 30° C. during the days, 8° C. to 20° C. during thenights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa hybrid ‘DCALIADR’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 10 to 15 days at approximately 18° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounded to semi-trailing.-   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm.-   Height: About 12 cm to top of flowering plane.-   Plant spread: 37 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 16 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 3-4 mm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 13.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Terminal branch ends            flushed near Purple N79B.        -   Texture.—Pilose.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.-   Internode length: 1 to 1.3 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 1000 per plant.        -   Average length.—3 cm.        -   Average width.—9 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Scabrous.        -   Aspect.—45 degrees from branch, slightly arched.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage upper            side: RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green            137B. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side:            RHS Green 137A. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 2-3 mm. Diameter: 1.5-2.0 mm. Color: RHS            Green 137B. Texture: Pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring to Autumn,-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 30 days.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Axillary, single flower,    salverform shape, upward and outwardly facing.-   Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 4 to 7 days.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: About 90.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—8-9 mm.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Green 138B.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—4.5 cm.        -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—7 mm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length from throat.—2.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.2 cm.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Lobing.—Weak.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Apex.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red 53A, center            flushed Greyed-Purple N187A. Lower surface: Near RHS Red            53C.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red 53A. Lower            surface: Near RHS Red 53C. Flower throat (inside): RHS            Yellow-Orange 14B. Small, partially rounded transitional            coloration of Red 53A. Flower throat, vein: RHS Grey RHS Red            53A. Flower tube (outside): RHS Yellow-Orange 14D. Flower            tube, vein: RHS Greyed-Orange 177A. Petal color, fading to:            RHS Red 53C. Conspicuousness of veins, throat and outer            corolla tube: Weak.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Width.—5 mm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Green 138A. Lower Surface: RHS            Green 138B.-   Peduncle: None present.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—0.8-1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Green 138B.        -   Orientation.—45 degrees.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—3-9 mm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Globose.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow 13C.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow 12C. Quantity: Moderate.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—6 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 4.5 mm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Oblate. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Ovary            Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: About 30 dark brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5 mm    diameter, per one brown, conical capsule.-   Disease/pest resistance: Some observed resistance to Podosphaera    xanthii. No additional resistance nor susceptibility to the normal    diseases and pests of Calibrachoa have been observed. Pests common    to Calibrachoa include Aphids and thrips. Typical diseases are    Botrytis and Pythium.-   Temperature tolerance: 5° C. to 30° C.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘DCALIADR’ as herein illustrated and described.